Pallet-like support base, especially for shipping and storage containers for liquids

ABSTRACT

A pallet-like support base for a shipping and storage container for liquids has a bottom for supporting the inner container of the storage container and corner and middle feet. The feet are mounted on a base frame. The bottom of the support base and the outer jacket of the inner container are mounted on the base frame. The corner feet and middle feet of the support base have inwardly or outwardly directed formations for reinforcement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to pallet-like support bases, especially for shipping and storage containers for liquids, which are equipped with a plastic inner container with a closable filler connection and a drain connection for connection of a drain fitting and with an outer container or jacket that consists of a metal cage or sheet metal. The metal support base has a bottom for supporting the inner container and corner and middle feet, which are mounted on a base frame, and on which the bottom of the support base and the outer jacket of the inner container are mounted (Such a support base is disclosed in DE 42 06 945 C1).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The object of the present invention is to improve the design of the generic pallet-like support base that is used especially in shipping and storage containers for liquids, specifically, with respect to increasing its strength.

[0003] Pursuant to this object, and others which will become apparent hereafter, one aspect of the present invention resides in a pallet-like support base for shipping and storage containers for liquids which are equipped with a plastic inner container with a closable filler connection and a drain connection for connection of a drain fitting and with an outer jacket that consists of a metal cage or sheet metal. The metal support base includes a bottom for supporting the inner container, and corner and middle feet mounted on a base frame, and on which a bottom of the support base and the outer jacket of the inner container are mountable. At least one of the corner feet and the middle feet of the support base has one of inwardly and outwardly directed formations for reinforcement.

[0004] In another embodiment of the invention inwardly directed reinforcing corrugations are formed in a shell plate of the corner feet.

[0005] A further embodiment provides that the reinforcing corrugations are pressed into the shell plate of the corner feet.

[0006] In still another embodiment the reinforcing corrugations of the corner feet run vertically towards upper and lower support edges of the shell plate along an entire height of the shell plate.

[0007] Compared to the previously known support bases used mainly for liquid containers, the support base design in accordance with the invention is distinguished by an increased breaking strength and falling strength, which results in improved shipping safety and a lower weight of the support base.

[0008] The various features of novelty, which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the drawing and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0009] In the drawing:

[0010]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a shipping and storage container for liquids, which is equipped with a support base;

[0011]FIG. 2 shows a perspective outside view of a corner foot of the support base; and

[0012]FIG. 3 shows a perspective inside view of a corner foot of the support base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The shipping and storage container 1 for liquids in FIG. 1, which can be used as a disposable or refillable container, has as one of its main components a replaceable plastic inner container 2 in the form of a three dimensional rectangle. The inner container 2 is equipped on its top 5 with a filler connection 3 that can be closed with a cap 4 and on its bottom 7 with a drain connection 6 for connecting a drain fitting 8. The refillable container 1 further has an outer jacket 9 consisting of intersecting horizontal and vertical metal grating bars 10, 11, and a pallet-like support base 12 with length and width dimensions that conform to European standards.

[0014] The support base 12 of the shipping and storage container 1 has a bottom 13 for supporting the inner container 2 and corner and middle feet 14, 15, which are installed on a base frame 16, and on which the bottom 13 and the outer jacket 9 of the inner container 2 are mounted.

[0015] Inwardly directed reinforcing corrugations 18 are pressed into the shell plate 17 of the corner feet 14 of the support base 12, which run vertically towards the upper and lower support edges 19, 20 of the shell plate 17 along the entire height 21 of the shell plate 17.

[0016] The increase in the breaking strength and falling strength of the support base 12 resulting from the reinforcing corrugations 18 in the shell plate 17 of the corner feet 14 makes it possible to reduce the thickness of the shell plate 17 of the corner feet 14, so that the weight of the support base itself is reduced, and thus the tare weight of the shipping and storage container 1 is reduced.

[0017] The invention is not limited by the embodiments described above which are presented as examples only but can be modified in various ways within the scope of the protection defined by the appended patent claims. 

I claim:
 1. A pallet-like support base for shipping and storage containers for liquids which are equipped with a plastic inner container with a closable filler connection and a drain connection for connection of a drain fitting and with an outer jacket that consists of a metal cage or sheet metal, the metal support base comprising: a bottom for supporting the inner container; and corner and middle feet mounted on a base frame, and on which a bottom of the support base and the outer jacket of the inner container are mountable, at least one of the corner feet and the middle feet of the support base having one of inwardly and outwardly directed formations for reinforcement.
 2. The support base in accordance with claim 1, wherein inwardly directed reinforcing corrugations are formed in a shell plate of the corner feet.
 3. The support base in accordance with claim 2, wherein the reinforcing corrugations are pressed into the shell plate of the corner feet.
 4. The support base in accordance with claim 3, wherein the reinforcing corrugations of the corner feet run vertically towards upper and lower support edges of the shell plate along an entire height of the shell plate. 